Flexible magnetic closure



Feb. 3, 1953 R, E s 2,627,097

FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC CLOSURE Filed May 25, 1 951 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims. I

This invention relates to flexible magnetic closures and one of theprincipal objects of the. invention is the provision of means for more.

quickly and conveniently closing the margins of a flexible article ofapparel or other device than other means in use at present.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means forincreasing the magnetic tractive force of magnetic apparel closures tosuch a degree that the closure requires no additional mechanical orinterlocking means to keep the margins of the flexible articleefiectively closed during regular use.

And a still further object of the invention is the provision of meansfor causing the margins of the flexible article to be self-closing assoon as any part or point of the magnetized margins are brought intocontact.

And yet another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanicalclasp or clamp at either end of the margins to be used only in caseswhere severe strain is applied to the extremities of the margins. 1

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and bespecifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention and in which;

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional isometric view of my magnetic apparelclosure.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the closure showing a mechanical end fastenerattached thereto.

Fig. 3 shows a top View of the mechanical end fastener.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a variation of the magnetic closure.

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the path of magnetic conductancethrough the apparel closure.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters and numerals ofreference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 6 denotes generally the longitudinal flexible channel part of mymagnetic closure while 1 is the associated longitudinal flexibleprojecting part, which latter easily fits into the former longitudinallyand is held thereto by magnetic attraction as will be progressivelyexplained. These longitudinal flexible parts or strips are preferablymade of rubber, pyroxylin or similar flexible material and can be easilyand cheaply fabricated by extrusion or moulding. Each of the strips 6and 1 are provided with laterally extending lips 8 and 9 respectively towhich are attached, as by threads Hi, the margins H and I2 respectively(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1), of any article of apparel such asgarments, shoes, etc., or any flexible article requiring a closuremeans, such as brief cases, pocketbooks, etc.

Both the channel member 6 and the projection member I are composed of acomposite number of longitudinal strips, the channel 6 having its outerpart conform to a Z shape in cross section of which the lip 8 is a part,while to its inner surface is glued (glue not illustrated) the flexiblemagnetic channel [3, which is also preferably composed of the samematerial but having magnetizable particles 14 inherently mixedtherewith. As will be noted, the channel member l3 has its cross sectionin the form of a V, thus conforming to the shape of a horse-shoe magnetthroughout its length. The channel I3 is permanently magnetized with anorth and south magnetic pole as indicated preferably after its rear andone side is glued to the Z-shaped part of the strip 6 as will beapparent from Fig. l.

The flexible member I is also composed of a plurality of strips, the lippart 9 being also of substantially Z-shaped formation in cross sectionand to which is glued the magnetically attractive flexible bar [5 whichhas inherently mixed therewith soft iron particles l6, and which bartherefor acts as a keeper for the horseshoe magnet I3. In order toproperly guide and align the projection member l into the channel member6, I provide a flexible projection strip {1, which is not magneticallyattractive as otherwise it would magnetically short circuit thehorseshoe magnet l3 and render its tractive force almost negligible. Itwill thus be apparent that I have designed a flexible closure meanswhich will have great tractive force, it being also apparent that itwould be practically impossible to make the strips 6 and I each in onepiece and insert magnetizable particles l4 and IE only in the particularlocations illustrated. By gluing the strips of magnetizing material tothe other strips with rubber cement or vulcanizing them together, Iinexpensively provide the structure shown which will resist any ordinarystress. However, should any special strain be applied to the margins ofa garment, such as might occur at the neck or waist of a wearer, Iprovide a mechanical U- shaped fastener l8 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and3. This fastener is provided with a lip l9 having a slot 20 whichpermits the fastener to slip onto or off of the opposite sides of thealready magnetically attached strips 6 and l, the arms 2| of thefastener gripping the outer sides of the strips against tensional stressas will be apparent from Fig. 3. A rivet 22 is secured to the strip 6which confines the movement of the fastener within the bounds of theslot 20. The V-shape of channel [3 permits easy insertion of part 11.

For greater tensional strains applied to the margins H and I2, I providean arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 in which a complete magneticcircuit is also provided. The strip SA has glued to it the U-shapedpermanently magnetized channel strip [3A into the channel 23 of whichfits the unmagnetized projection strip "A. It will thus be apparent thatthe magnetically attractive bar strip I5A completes the magneticcircuit. The bar strip [5A is glued to the strip IA and also to theprojection strip HA.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated how the garment or other article may beadjusted as to size by merely inserting the projection strip llA intoany of the plural channels 23. It is not necessary to provide anyadditional end clips l8 with this construction. It will be noted thatevery alternate pole piece on the magnetic strip l3A is a north magneticpole and of course the intermediate pole pieces are south poles,signified by the letters N and S respectively. The inclined edges ofboth the parts HA and channels 23 of strip 13A cause mechanicalinterlocking of the parts against lateral tension while the strongmagnetic tractive force secured by the arrangement illustrated willprevent dislodgement of the strips from each other when such tensionalstrain is removed or if the wearing apparent buckles through loosenessor during the various postures required while wearing. To open themargins, all that is necessary is to pass a finger between the strips SAand 7A. As will be apparent from Fig. l, the strips 6 an T willautomatically close the margins through magnetic attraction as soon aseither end or part thereof are brought sufliciently close together tocause magnetic attraction to move them, thus saving time and efiort.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have evolved amagnetic apparel closure which will be very effective in positivelykeeping the margins of a garment in closed position, permit quick andconvenient application thereof in either the closing or openingoperation and permit economical manufacture as well as easy andconvenient attachment to the articles of wearing apparel or other deviceto be closed.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the inventionhereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificingthe advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible magnetic closure comprising two flexible strips eachattached to oppositely disposed margins of a closable article, saidstrips forming a longitudinal closed magnetic circuit in cross-sectionwhen in closed relation, one of said strips forming a permanentlymagnetized substantially V-shaped horse-shoe magnet in cross-sectionwhile the associated strip consists of a magnetically attractivebar-shaped keeper in cross-section and adapted to contact the poles ofsaid horse-shoe magnet, and a substantially V-shaped non-magnetic guidestrip permanently attached to said bar-shaped keeper and adapted to fitbetween the poles of said V-shaped horseshoe magnet.

2. A flexible magnetic closure comprising a longitudinal channel memberof flexible material provided with permanently magnetizable materialinherent therewith, an associated longitudinal projection member offlexible non-magnetic material adapted to fit into the channel of saidchannel member, and another longitudinal member of flexible materialprovided with magnetically attractive material inherent therewith andattached to said projection member and adapted to form a closed magneticcircuit with said channel member when said members are in closedposition.

3. A flexible magnetic closure as in claim 2, and means for attachingthe longitudinal channel member and the composite projection memher toopposite flaps of a closure article.

4. A flexible magnetic closure comprising two flexible strips eachattached to oppositely disposed margins of a closa'ble article, saidstrips being partly composed of material having permanent magneticattraction for each other and forming a closed magnetic circuit when inclosed relation, the said magnetically attractive strips extending thefull length of the opening of said closure article, and a rigidmechanical clasp irremovably attached to either end of one of saidstrips and adapted to secure the ends of said strips to each other.

5. A flexible magnetic closure comprising a longitudinal channel memberof flexible material provided with permanent magnetizable materialinherent therewith, the legs of said channel member comprisingthe'opposite poles of a permanent magnet, an associated longitudinalprojection member of flexible non-magnetic material adapted to fit intothe channel of said channel member, and another longitudinal member offlexible material provided with magnetically attractive materialinherent therewith attached to said non-magnetic projection member andadapted to form a closed magnetic circuit with the magnetic poles ofsaid channel member when said members are in closed position, the saidlegs of said channel member and the said projection member beinginclined so as to interlock when in closed position.

6. A flexible magnetic closure as in claim 5, the said channel memberbeing provided with a plurality of parallel channels so as to permitsaid projection member to seat in either channel.

ROBERT ELLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,355,816 Morner Aug. 15, 19442,389,298 Ellis Nov. 20, 1945

